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Migrant crisis: Libya boats search for more bodies Migrant crisis: Libya searches for more bodies
(about 5 hours later)
Fishing boats off the Libyan coast are searching for more bodies after two migrant vessels capsized on Thursday. Libyan workers continue to search for bodies at sea and on shore after two migrant vessels capsized on Thursday.
Around 200 people are feared to have drowned as they tried to cross from Zuwara, west of Tripoli, to Italy.Around 200 people are feared to have drowned as they tried to cross from Zuwara, west of Tripoli, to Italy.
The victims include Syrians, Bangladeshis and people from sub-Saharan Africa.
Police in Italy have detained 10 suspected traffickers after 52 people were found dead in the hold of a ship off the coast of Libya on Wednesday.Police in Italy have detained 10 suspected traffickers after 52 people were found dead in the hold of a ship off the coast of Libya on Wednesday.
BBC Africa Live: News updates President Obama's spokesman said the migrant crisis showed that unrest in the Middle East had a worldwide impact.
The Libyan coast-guard worked overnight on Thursday to search for survivors from the latest tragedy. Josh Earnest said Europe should get tougher on traffickers who were exploiting migrants.
But Libya is poorly equipped to carry out rescue operations as the boats available to its coast-guard are small, BBC North Africa correspondent Rana Jawad reports from Tunis. On Friday workers from the Libyan Red Crescent were undertaking the grim task of recovering migrants' bodies which had washed up on the coast.
Dozens of bodies have been recovered, but it is difficult to verify the exact numbers. "We, the Red Crescent, work with nothing. Some fishermen help us with a boat," Ibrahim al-Attoushi from the Red Crescent in Zuwara told Reuters.
At least 150 survivors of the two sinkings have been taken to a refugee centre and a detention centre in Libya. "We only have one ambulance car."
While most of the victims are thought to be from Syria and African countries, a Bangladeshi diplomat told the BBC that at least five Bangladeshi nationals, including a six-month-old baby, were among the dead. Around 100 bodies have already been found, and the United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) said a further 100 people are unaccounted for.
Some of those who died were trapped in the hull of one of the boats.
The Libyan coast-guard had worked overnight on Thursday, searching for survivors from the two boats.
At least 150 survivors of the sinkings have been taken to a refugee centre and a detention centre in Libya.
Ayman Talaal, a Syrian survivor, said he and his family had been "forced into this route".
"It's called the route of death. It is now called the grave of the Mediterranean sea," he said.
While most of the victims of Thursday's capsizes are thought to be from Syria and African countries, a Bangladeshi diplomat told the BBC that at least five Bangladeshi nationals, including a six-month-old baby, were among the dead.
Some survivors were rescued having spent the night in the water, clinging to life jackets.Some survivors were rescued having spent the night in the water, clinging to life jackets.
'Murder'
Meanwhile officials in Palermo investigating the deaths of 52 migrants found dead in a boat's hold on Wednesday have detained 10 of the 571 survivors brought ashore, on suspicion of murder, Rai TV reports.Meanwhile officials in Palermo investigating the deaths of 52 migrants found dead in a boat's hold on Wednesday have detained 10 of the 571 survivors brought ashore, on suspicion of murder, Rai TV reports.
Prosecutor Maurizio Scalia told AP that those detained included seven Moroccans, two Syrians and a Libyan.Prosecutor Maurizio Scalia told AP that those detained included seven Moroccans, two Syrians and a Libyan.
A Swedish coastguard ship, the Poseidon, working with the EU's Frontex border agency, brought the survivors and the bodies to the Sicilian port.A Swedish coastguard ship, the Poseidon, working with the EU's Frontex border agency, brought the survivors and the bodies to the Sicilian port.
Melissa Fleming from the UNHCR said survivors had recounted being charged money just to come out of the hold and breathe. Thousands of people set off from lawless Libya every night, packed into boats, trying to reach safety in Europe.
One survivor said migrants were beaten with sticks to keep them in the hold, she said. Many of the vessels are not seaworthy and are overcrowded.
The United Nations' refugee agency (UNHCR) says more than 2,500 people have died trying to reach Europe so far in 2015, not including Thursday's deaths. Since the overthrow of Col Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has descended into chaos, with various militias fighting for power.
The internationally-recognised government has been forced to leave Tripoli and does not control the country's western coast, from where most migrant boats depart, aiming for Italy.
The UNHCR says more than 2,500 people have died trying to reach Europe so far in 2015, not including Thursday's deaths.
Meanwhile Austrian police have confirmed that 71 people died inside a refrigerated lorry found abandoned on a motorway near the Hungarian border. They think that at least some of the dead were from Syria.Meanwhile Austrian police have confirmed that 71 people died inside a refrigerated lorry found abandoned on a motorway near the Hungarian border. They think that at least some of the dead were from Syria.
"If we had an orderly safe way for people to come to Europe then we would avoid these tragedies," the UNHCR's William Spindler told the BBC.
"We would also have less incentives for illegal immigration because we would have legal avenues to come, so people would not have to risk their lives in this way".